Zarif and Muallem who were both aboard the same passenger jet were received by a number of Russian officials, as well as the Iranian ambassador to Moscow and the heads of the Iranian foundations in Russia, who welcomed them in Vnukovo Airport.

The Iranian, Russian and Syrian top diplomats are scheduled to take part in a trilateral meeting on Thursday. 

Zarif is schedule to visit the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during this visit and exchange viewpoints with them on bilateral ties, as well as regional and international developments including Syria crisis. 

The Syrian developments include one of the axes of Tehran-Moscow consultations in this visit as two capitals have shared viewpoints on many regional and international issues.

"All international and regional forces that influence the course of events in Syria should take part (in Geneva II). These include Iran," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement issued in advance of Zarif's visit.

During his one day visit of Moscow, the Iranian foreign minister will also have a meeting with the Russian media activists, as well as one with a group of Russian thinkers and elites.

NJF/NJF